Lucy Van Oldenbarneveld strides into the downtown CBC café with her signature bright smile and warm energy. She greets the staff, acknowledging they are new to her. “It’s great to meet you,” she says to the server. “You’ve started since I’ve been away.”

The affable host has been absent from her anchor chair for the past 16 months while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She has gone through the diagnosis, surgery with some complications, several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and turned 50 in the middle of it all. And ever the consummate professional, she documented her journey through a half dozen CBC video blogs to help others going through the same experience.

She sat down with Postmedia to share her thoughts about her return to the CBC airwaves on Wednesday 6 p.m.

Q. How does it feel to go back to work?

A. First, you’re overwhelmed with gratitude and you will hear cancer patients say that all the time, that I am lucky enough to be here. Because it’s a public job, I’m a little bit overwhelmed. Looking like a chia pet is very different for an anchor, it’s a different look that I’m working on (she says laughing). I’ve never had curls before, it was straight as could be. So I don’t know if it’s going to stay, they call it chemo curls. Sometimes it stays, sometimes it doesn’t. Who knows?

Q. Do you have a different approach to self-care since your diagnosis?

A. My main thing right now, and this is something that I am taking very seriously, is strengthening my immune system to the point that, if there is ever another rogue cell, they will be stronger to fight that. That means things like higher doses of vitamin D, magnesium, so really taking the nutritional supplement component seriously.

Q. You received an outpouring of support, with emails, cards,and visits from family, friends, and co-workers. That must have helped you.

A. I was happily inundated with that stuff early on and it just makes you feel loved and cared for and supported and not alone … because it’s your own little battle. And to have all that general support and the cards … so many women told me their stories and that was so helpful.

Q. In one of your video blogs, you shared your special experience of ringing the bell of hope, which symbolizes the end of chemotherapy treatment. What did it mean to you?

A. I can’t even talk about it without (tearing up) because every time you sit in chemo or radiation, every time you hear that bell … it means hope. That sound means hope. That sound means somebody is done and they are getting on with their lives. And it just reminds you to keep going because one day you are going to ring that bell. And every time I heard it I was sobbing because you hope for that so much.

Q. What are your lessons learned now that you have successfully made it through treatment and about to get back to your work routine?

A. You have time to take stock and to figure out what your 50 years on the planet have meant. Have you done everything you want to do? Have you nurtured the relationships you should, friends, family, partner, everything, so when it is all said and done, that is the only thing that matters.

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